Press Release - April 4, 2014 - San Francisco Officials’ Financial Disclosures E-Filed And Immediately Viewable Online For First Time

Contact:John St. Croix(415) 252-3100

For release:April 4, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO OFFICIALS’ FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES E-FILED AND IMMEDIATELY VIEWABLE ONLINE FOR FIRST TIME

This year for the first time, San Francisco’s elected officials, commissioners, board members, and department heads filed their annual financial disclosure forms electronically with the City’s Ethics Commission, which became immediately viewable to the public on the Commission’s website.

These forms, known as Statements of Economic Interests (“SEIs”) which were due on April 1st, disclose each official’s personal assets and income. Officials are required to disqualify themselves from participating in decisions that may affect their personal interests.

The Ethics Commission instituted the electronic filing requirement for SEI’s last July, as part of its ongoing efforts to make disclosure records more accessible online.

“Instant public access to the personal financial interests of City officials represents a significant step towards increasing the transparency of City decision-making,” said Ethics Commission Executive Director John St. Croix. “This effort embodies our commitment to promoting integrity in government.”

City lobbying and campaign reports are also filed electronically and are viewable on the Commission’s website.

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The Ethics Commission, established in November 1993, serves the public, City employees and officials and candidates for public office through education and enforcement of ethics laws. Its duties include: filing and auditing of campaign finance disclosure statements, lobbyist and campaign consultant registration and regulation, administration of the public financing program, whistleblower program, conflict of interest reporting, investigations and enforcement, education and training, advice giving and statistical reporting.